Who are the 15 strongest players in Steelers history?

The Steelers spent a first-round pick in the 1986 draft on a physical specimen

If you have stuck with our discussion up to this point, you are in for a treat.  I could not leave our first-round pick in the 1986 draft, John Rienstra, off the list.  The reason will become clear momentarily.

First, here is a true story involving Rienstra.  I attended Temple University as did Rienstra; however, he was drafted the year before I started.  My older brother also attended Temple University and was there at the same time as Rienstra.

While he was walking to class crossing the Bell Tower, my brother noticed a giant shadow turning the corner of the library.  Who emerged was the biggest human being he had ever seen, as my brother would recount the tale.  That human being was Rienstra, who was simply mammoth for that era of Steelers football.

Listed at 6′ 5′” and 273 lbs., Rienstra reportedly could bench press 501 pounds, could squat 722 pounds, and was a former record holder in the deadlift with a pull of 738 pounds, according to an article from UPI dated April 29th, 1986.

I think it is fair to say that Rienstra did not live up to the first-round billing, having started only twenty-seven games over his five-year Steelers career.  Nonetheless, he was plenty big and plenty strong.

Let’s see who comes in at number seven on our list.